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PM covers a broad spectrum of issues relevant to all sections of Australia's geographically and culturally diverse community. It looks behind political, economic, industrial, business, social, cultural, rural, regional and arts stories. Below is the program summary with links to transcripts and audio (if available).

Qld Gunman still on the loose

A man shoots three Queensland Police Officers in a Brisbane suburb and more than 36 hours later Police are still frankly baffled, even as to the gunman's general whereabouts. Today the wounded Officers are recovering in hospital and residents of Chermside, where the shooting took place, are attempting to get their lives back in order.

Profile of mass shooting murderers

The Brisbane gunman may identify with Jessie James but the Queensland Police Commissioner, Jim O'Sullivan, describes him as a psychopath and a lunatic. No-one's in any doubt that he's in need of urgent psychiatric attention, but the multiple shooting has ignited debate over whether psychiatrists should notify police of patients who may be likely to commit acts of violence.

Search for the cause of Melbourne legionnaires outbreak

The investigation into Melbourne's outbreak of Legionnaires Disease has taken an intriguing turn with investigators now looking at possible causes outside the Melbourne Aquarium. The outbreak is now Australia's biggest ever with 47 confirmed cases and two people dead. The Victorian Government today appointed two experts on the disease to pin down the cause which could be as basic as dust.

GST blank cheque advertising campaign

Canberra's bureaucrats have had their calculators in over-drive trying to answer questions about the cost of the Government's GST advertising campaign. Under cross-examination from Labor, the man who approves the Government's ad budget, Senator Chris Ellison, conceded he didn't know how much the campaign would cost. The Opposition then accused the Government of writing a blank cheque for GST promotion, but the Coalition says it's just following guidelines set up by Labor.

Life for the Palestinians on the Gaza strip

When Israel handed Gaza over to Palestinian control six years ago, the tiny coastal strip embodied the aspirations of the Palestinian people. Gaza, birth place of the interfada [phonetic] against the Israeli occupation has since found itself on the standard itinerary of world leaders visiting the Middle East. But the people of Gaza, including hundreds of thousands in refugee camps, have lost the hope they felt when the Israelis first left.

Claims of mistreatment of Kosovo refugees

Australia's remaining Kosovar Albanians may be out of sight at remote Port Hedland but not entirely out of mind. There are claims that some at the Port Hedland detention centre in Western Australia are being denied food and put in solitary confinement. The Immigration Minister, Philip Ruddock, has rejected the claims, saying that if anything there's an over-supply of food at the centre, and he says a detainee was placed in solitary confinement simply because of behavioural problems.

Agreement on development of indiginous nutrition strategy

Executive Officer of the Jarwin Association, Robert Lee, says too many Aboriginal people are dying too young from diseases that can and should be prevented. Mr Lee was speaking at the signing of an agreement between the Jarwin Association and the Fred Hollows Foundation on the development of a nutrition strategy. The former National Party Leader and Deputy Prime Minister Tim Fischer was at the launch, and later acknowledged it was a case of a private group stepping in where governments have failed.

Olympic swimsuit row

The Olympic swim suit farce now looks set to bring lawyers into the team's selection process. The Australian Olympic Committee has delayed the announcement of the squad for at least 48 hours because of uncertainty surrounding the legality of the controversial swim suits. Spots for some of the most keenly fought positions could take weeks to decide if competitors who don't use the full length suits complain that they didn't make it for that reason alone.

WA police investigate attempts to drug women

Blonde, blue-eyed women have been contacting Perth police today reporting that their drinks have been spiked with drugs in city nightclubs. All the victims coming forward are fair-haired, slimly built and aged between 18 and 25. But police have suggested that the offender in each case may not be the same.

Internet music industry faces legal challenge

Now to a big legal obstacle in the path of one of the internet's biggest money makers. Australia's music industry has joined in the welcome for a court ruling in America against the online company MP3.Com. The District Court in New York ruled that MP3 was liable for copyright infringement for allowing users to access its huge CD collection on line free of charge. The Recording Industry Association of America representing the world's biggest record companies including Sony and Time-Warner initiated the legal action to protect their copyright.

Spam scam on the Internet

Spam, once just a pink luncheon meat immortalised by Monty Python, is now also something more unpleasant. On the world-wide web Spam means junk e-mail, usually trying to sell you something. And now it's Spam that's seen an Australian and a New Zealander charged with criminal and civil fraud offences by securities authorities in Australia and the US. They allegedly used the internet to tout shares in the United States listed company.

New defence chiefs

Major General Peter Cosgrove's appointment as Chief of the Army is likely to be popular with troops and the public in Australia, but some have criticised it on diplomatic grounds at a time of sensitive relations with Jakarta. The Defence Minister, John Moore, presented the military's new leadership team with letters of appointment today.